Abstract: The impact of a proposed pier on tidal current
alteration was evaluated. The proposed pier location was in Salad
Bay on Koa Kood Island, Trat province, Thailand, and was designed
to accommodate passenger ships with a draft of less than 2 m. The
study began with collecting necessary data, including bathymetric,
water elevation and tidal current characteristics. The impact was
assessed using a software package (MIKE21). Although the results
showed that the pier would affect the existing current pattern, the
change was determined to be insignificant, as the design of the piles
for the pier provided sufficient spacing to let the current flow as
freely as possible. Consequences of the altered current, such as
seabed erosion, water stagnation, sediment deposition and
navigational risk were assessed. Environmental mitigation measures
might be necessary if the impacts were considered unacceptable.
Abstract: From the beginning of creation, human being has ever
fought against the ecosystem by changes has made in environment.
The most environmental changes on the nature have been done after
starting the concentrated life in the same region. Dams are one of the
most important buildings in water resources and transferring. These
buildings have been made from old times without access to
hydrological, hydraulically, hydro mechanical information. Dams
have positive and negative effects on environment. Constructing a
dam relatively causes equal ecological consequences. According to
different criteria, environmental effects of dams can lead short term
and long term damages. These effects may influence on the situation
and treatment of meteorology, biology, culture, ancient works, etc
and severely causes to change and complicate it. So considering
importance of positive effects of dam construction, it is necessary to
minimize negative environmental effects of dams to achieve a stable
development. In this article the considered effects and their solutions
in influencing on assessment of destructive environmental effects of
dams construction have been surveyed and presented.
Abstract: From environmental aspect purification of ammonia
containing wastewater is expected. High efficiency ammonia
desorption can be done from the water by air on proper temperature.
After the desorption process, ammonia can be recovered and used in
another technology. The calculation method described below give
some methods to find either the minimum column height or ammonia
rich solution of the effluent.
Abstract: Environmental contamination is a common problem in ex-industrial and industrial sites. This article gives a brief description of general applied environmental investigation methodologies and possible remediation applications in Latvia. Most of contaminated areas are situated in former and active industrial, military areas and ports. Industrial and logistic activities very often have been with great impact for more than hundred years thus the contamination level with heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants is high and is threatening health and environment in general. 242 territories now are numbered as contaminated and fixed in the National Register of contaminated territories in Latvia. Research and remediation of contamination in densely populated areas are of important environmental policy domain. Four different investigation case studies of contaminated areas are given describing the history of use, environmental quality assessment as well as planned environmental management actions. All four case study locations are situated in Riga - the capital of the Republic of Latvia. The aim of this paper is to analyze the situation and problems with management of contaminated areas in Latvia, give description of field research methods and recommendations for remediation industry based on scientific data and innovations.
Abstract: Recently, the health of retired National Football
League players, particularly lineman has been investigated. A number of studies have reported increased cardiometabolic risk, premature ardiovascular disease and incidence of type 2 diabetes. Rugby union players have somatotypes very similar
to National Football league players which suggest that rugby players may have similar health risks. The International Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival (GORF) provided a
unique opportunity to investigate the demographics of veteran rugby players. METHODOLOGIES: A cross-sectional, observational study was completed using an online web-based
questionnaire that consisted of medical history and
physiological measures. Data analysis was completed using a one sample t-test (50yrs) and Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 216 veteran rugby competitors
(response rate = 6.8%) representing 10 countries, aged 35-72 yrs (mean 51.2, S.D. ±8.0), participated in the online survey. As a group, the incidence of current smokers was low at 8.8%
(avg 72.4 cigs/wk) whilst the percentage consuming alcohol
was high (93.1% (avg 11.2 drinks/wk). Competitors reported
the following top six chronic diseases/disorders; hypertension
(18.6%), arthritis (OA/RA, 11.5%), asthma (9.3%),
hyperlipidemia (8.2%), diabetes (all types, 7.5%) and gout (6%), there were significant differences between groups with
regard to cancer (all types) and migraines. When compared to
the Australian general population (Australian Bureau of Statistics data, n=18,000), GORF competitors had a
Climstein Mike, Walsh Joe (corresponding author) and Burke Stephen
School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, 25A Barker Road,
Strathfield, Sydney, NSW, 2016, Australia (e-mail:
[email protected], [email protected],
[email protected]).
John Best is with Orthosports, 160 Belmore Rd., Randwick, Sydney,NSW
2031, Australia (e-mail: [email protected]).
Heazlewood, Ian Timothy is with School of Environmental and Life
Sciences, Faculty Education, Health and Science, Charles Darwin University,
Precinct Yellow Building 2, Charles Darwin University, NT 0909, Australia
(e-mail: [email protected]).
Kettunen Jyrki Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Jan-Magnus
Janssonin aukio 1, FI-00550, Helsinki, Finland (e-mail:
[email protected]).
Adams Kent is with California State University Monterey Bay, Kinesiology Department, 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA., 93955, USA (email: [email protected]).
DeBeliso Mark is with Department of Physical Education and Human
Performance, Southern Utah University, 351 West University Blvd, Cedar
City, Utah, USA (e-mail: [email protected]).
significantly lower incidence of anxiety (p
Abstract: At present, the tendency to implement the conditionbased
maintenance (CBM), which allows the optimization of the
expenses for equipment monitoring, is more and more evident; also,
the transformer substations with remote monitoring are increasingly
used. This paper reviews all the advantages of the on-line monitoring
and presents an equipment for on-line monitoring of bushings, which
is the own contribution of specialists who are the authors of this
paper. The paper presents a study of the temperature field, using the
finite element method. For carrying out this study, the 3D modelling
of the above mentioned bushing was performed. The analysis study is
done taking into account the extreme thermal stresses, focusing at the
level of the first cooling wing section of the ceramic insulator. This
fact enables to justify the tanδ variation in time, depending on the
transformer loading and the environmental conditions. With a view
to reducing the variation of dielectric losses in bushing insulation, the
use of ferrofuids instead of mineral oils is proposed.
Abstract: There is a growing body of evidence to support the
proposition of product take back for remanufacturing particularly
within the context of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Remanufacturing however presents challenges unlike that of
traditional manufacturing environments due to its high levels of
uncertainty which may further distract organizations from
considering its potential benefits. This paper presents a novel
modeling approach for evaluating the uncertainty of part failures
within the remanufacturing process and its impact on economic and
environmental performance measures. This paper presents both the
theoretical modeling approach and an example of its use in
application.
Abstract: In designing river intakes and diversion structures, it is paramount that the sediments entering the intake are minimized or, if possible, completely separated. Due to high water velocity, sediments can significantly damage hydraulic structures especially when mechanical equipment like pumps and turbines are used. This subsequently results in wasting water, electricity and further costs. Therefore, it is prudent to investigate and analyze the performance of lateral intakes affected by sediment control structures. Laboratory experiments, despite their vast potential and benefits, can face certain limitations and challenges. Some of these include: limitations in equipment and facilities, space constraints, equipment errors including lack of adequate precision or mal-operation, and finally, human error. Research has shown that in order to achieve the ultimate goal of intake structure design – which is to design longlasting and proficient structures – the best combination of sediment control structures (such as sill and submerged vanes) along with parameters that increase their performance (such as diversion angle and location) should be determined. Cost, difficulty of execution and environmental impacts should also be included in evaluating the optimal design. This solution can then be applied to similar problems in the future. Subsequently, the model used to arrive at the optimal design requires high level of accuracy and precision in order to avoid improper design and execution of projects. Process of creating and executing the design should be as comprehensive and applicable as possible. Therefore, it is important that influential parameters and vital criteria is fully understood and applied at all stages of choosing the optimal design. In this article, influential parameters on optimal performance of the intake, advantages and disadvantages, and efficiency of a given design are studied. Then, a multi-criterion decision matrix is utilized to choose the optimal model that can be used to determine the proper parameters in constructing the intake.
Abstract: Water pollution assessment problems arise frequently
in environmental science. In this research, a finite difference method
for solving the one-dimensional steady convection-diffusion equation
with variable coefficients is proposed; it is then used to optimize
water treatment costs.
Abstract: Utilization of bagasse ash for silica sources is one of
the most common application for agricultural wastes and valuable
biomass byproducts in sugar milling. The high percentage silica
content from bagasse ash was used as silica source for sodium
silicate solution. Different heating temperature, time and acid
treatment were studies for silica extraction. The silica was
characterized using various techniques including X-ray fluorescence,
X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier
Transform Infrared Spectroscopy method,. The synthesis conditions
were optimized to obtain the bagasse ash with the maximum silica
content. The silica content of 91.57 percent was achieved from
heating of bagasse ash at 600°C for 3 hours under oxygen feeding
and HCl treatment. The result can be used as value added for bagasse
ash utilization and minimize the environmental impact of disposal
problems.
Abstract: Exposure to radon occurs when breathing airborne
radon while using water: showering, washing dishes, cooking, and
drinking water that contain radon. The results of radon activity
measurements in water from public drinking fountain in city of Novi
Sad, Serbia is presented in this paper. Radon level in some samples
exceeded EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommendation
for maximum contaminant level (MCL) for radon in drinking water
of 11.1 Bq/l.
Abstract: Wireless Sensor Network is widely used in electronics. Wireless sensor networks are now used in many applications including military, environmental, healthcare applications, home automation and traffic control. We will study one area of wireless sensor networks, which is the routing protocol. Routing protocols are needed to send data between sensor nodes and the base station. In this paper, we will discuss two routing protocols, such as datacentric and hierarchical routing protocol. We will show the output of the protocols using the NS-2 simulator. This paper will compare the simulation output of the two routing protocol using Nam. We will simulate using Xgraph to find the throughput and delay of the protocol.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate whether there
is the promotion of product ecodesign measures as a result of
adopting ISO 14001 certification in manufacturing companies in the
Republic of Slovenia. Companies gave the most of their product
development attention to waste and energy reduction during
manufacturing process and reduction of material consumption per
unit of product. Regarding the importance of different ecodesign
criteria reduction of material consumption per unit of product was
reported as the most important criterion. Less attention is paid to endof-
life issues considering recycling or packaging. Most
manufacturing enterprises considered ISO 14001 standard as a very
useful tool or at least a useful tool helping them to accelerate and
establish product ecodesign activities. Two most frequently
considered ecodesign drivers are increased competitive advantage
and legal requirements and two most important barriers are high
development costs and insufficient market demand.
Abstract: Environmental awareness and the recent
environmental policies have forced many electric utilities to
restructure their operational practices to account for their emission
impacts. One way to accomplish this is by reformulating the
traditional economic dispatch problem such that emission effects are
included in the mathematical model. This paper presents a Particle
Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to solve the Economic-
Emission Dispatch problem (EED) which gained recent attention due
to the deregulation of the power industry and strict environmental
regulations. The problem is formulated as a multi-objective one with
two competing functions, namely economic cost and emission
functions, subject to different constraints. The inequality constraints
considered are the generating unit capacity limits while the equality
constraint is generation-demand balance. A novel equality constraint
handling mechanism is proposed in this paper. PSO algorithm is
tested on a 30-bus standard test system. Results obtained show that
PSO algorithm has a great potential in handling multi-objective
optimization problems and is capable of capturing Pareto optimal
solution set under different loading conditions.
Abstract: Product Data Management (PDM) systems for Computer
Aided Design (CAD) file management are widely established
in design processes. This management system is indispensable for
design collaboration or when design task distribution is present. It is
thus surprising that engineering design curricula has not paid much
attention in the education of PDM systems. This is also the case
for eduction of ecodesign and environmental evaluation of products.
With the rise of sustainability as a strategic aspect in companies,
environmental concerns are becoming a key issue in design. This
paper discusses the establishment of a PDM platform to be used
among technical and vocational schools in Austria. The PDM system
facilitates design collaboration among these schools. Further, it will
be discussed how the PDM system has been prepared in order to
facilitate environmental evaluation of parts, components and subassemblies
of a product. By integrating a Business Intelligence
solution, environmental Life Cycle Assessment and communication
of results is enabled.
Abstract: Environmental conflicts produced by economic development and natural resources exploitation, are discussed. Main causes of conflicts in developing countries were shown to arise from geographically external investments, inefficiency of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and the lack of communication between government and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Citizen participation can only intervene during late stages of the EIA, which is considered as one of the main shortcomings in satisfying demands of local people.
Abstract: The friction between two metal surfaces results in a
high frequency noise (squealing) which also occurs during the
braking of wagons with rail brakes in the process of shunting at a
marshalling yard with a hump. At that point the noise level may
exceed 130dB, which is extremely unpleasant for workers and
inhabitants. In our research we developed a new composite material
which does not change braking properties, is capable of taking
extremely high pressure loads, reduces noise and is environmentally
friendly. The noise reduction results had been very good and had
shown a decrease of the high frequency noise almost completely (by
99%) at its source. With our technology we had also reduced general
noise by more than 30dBA.
Abstract: Management Systems are powerful tools for businesses
to manage quality , environmental and occupational health and safety
requirements . where once these systems were considered as stand
alone control mechanisms , industry is now opting to increase the
efficiency of these documented systems through a more integrated
approach . System integration offers a significant step forward, where
there are similarities between system components , reducing
duplication and adminstration costs and increasing efficiency .
At first , this paper reviews integrated management system structure
and its benefits. The second part of this paper focuses on the one
example implementation of such a system at Imam Khomeini
Hospital and in final part of the paper will be discuss outcomes of
that proccess .
Abstract: Voltage collapse is instability of heavily loaded electric
power systems that cause to declining voltages and blackout. Power
systems are predicated to become more heavily loaded in the future
decade as the demand for electric power rises while economic and
environmental concerns limit the construction of new transmission
and generation capacity. Heavily loaded power systems are closer to
their stability limits and voltage collapse blackouts will occur if
suitable monitoring and control measures are not taken. To control
transmission lines, it can be used from FACTS devices.
In this paper Harmony search algorithm (HSA) and Genetic
Algorithm (GA) have applied to determine optimal location of
FACTS devices in a power system to improve power system stability.
Three types of FACTS devices (TCPAT, UPFS, and SVC) have been
introduced. Bus under voltage has been solved by controlling reactive
power of shunt compensator. Also a combined series-shunt
compensators has been also used to control transmission power flow
and bus voltage simultaneously.
Different scenarios have been considered. First TCPAT, UPFS, and
SVC are placed solely in transmission lines and indices have been
calculated. Then two types of above controller try to improve
parameters randomly. The last scenario tries to make better voltage
stability index and losses by implementation of three types controller
simultaneously. These scenarios are executed on typical 34-bus test
system and yields efficiency in improvement of voltage profile and
reduction of power losses; it also may permit an increase in power
transfer capacity, maximum loading, and voltage stability margin.
Abstract: Processes of plant breeding, testing and licensing of new varieties, patent protection in seed production, relations in trade and protection of copyright are dependent on identification, differentiation and characterization of plant genotypes. Therefore, we focused our research on utilization of wheat storage proteins as genetic markers suitable not only for differentiation of individual genotypes, but also for identification and characterization of their considerable properties. We analyzed a collection of 102 genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), 41 genotypes of spelt wheat (Triticum spelta L.), and 35 genotypes of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), in this study. Our results show, that genotypes of bread wheat and durum wheat were homogenous and single line, but spelt wheat genotypes were heterogenous. We observed variability of HMW-GS composition according to environmental factors and level of breeding and predict technological quality on the basis of Glu-score calculation.